Mail delivering and receiving apparatus for railway-cars.



1&0; 721,332. PATENTED FEB. 24, 1903.

' A R. SHEDENHELM. I A MAIL DELIVERING AND RECEIVING APPARATUS FOR R ILWY CARS,

- APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1902.

H0 IODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 721,332. PATENTBD FEB.24, 1 903. R. SHEDBNHELM.

MAIL DELIVERING AND RECEIVING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY CARS. APPLICATIONFILED JUNE 30, 1902. no noun. 2 sums-sum 2.

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UNITED "STATES ROBERT SHEDENHELM,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF DES MOINES IOWA.

MAIL DELIVERING AND RECEIVING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY-CARS.

SPECIFIUATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 721,332,dated February24, 1903. Application filed June 30, 1902. Serial No. 113,765. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT SHEDENHELM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and Sta'te'ofv Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful so that fragile articles in themail-pouches will not be brokeuwhen the mail-sacks are beingtransferred. I

More specifically, it is my object to provide a rigid back to which themail-pouch may be detachably connected, which back is provided withmeans forengagingsuitable catching and holding devices, whereby themailpouch may be delivered from or received upon a moving car withouthaving the pouch proper strike upon any of the receiving and holdingdevices, thus preventing wear upon the pouch and securely holding thepouch in position so that the contents of the pouch are not disturbed.

A further object is to provide at delivering apparatus of simple,durable, and inexpensive construction, whereby the rigid backs havingmail-pouches attached thereto may be caught from a moving train andsupported in such a manner that the contents of the pouch are not brokenor disturbed, and',

further, it is my object to provide a delivering mechanism of this'classso arranged that after it has received a mail-pouch it will .bewithdrawn automatically from proximity to the railway-car, so as toavoid danger of passengers on the car being struck by the saiddelivering devices.

A further object is to provide an improved receiving device of simple,durable, and inexpensive construction, wherebyone of the solid backshaving a mail-pouch strapped thereto may be supported adjacent to arailway-track, andwh en a carhaving my improvements applied theretopasses the supported back and pouch the same will be engaged by thereceiving devices at the front end of the car and the inertia of theback and pouch will cause it to slide upon the receiv-- [ing deviceagainst yielding resistance, where it may be removed from thecar-receiving 'device by the operator, thus preventing wear upon themail-pouches and the breaking or disturbing of articles within thepouches.

My invention consists in certain details in the construction,arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device,wherebythe objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully setforth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 shows in perspective a portion of arailway-track and a mail-car on the track with my improved receiving anddelivering apparatus in position adjacent to the track and on the carand showing a solid back with a mailpouch attached thereto resting onthe car-floor and partly in engagement with the stationary deliveringdevice, and also showing a solid back having a mail-pouch thereon inposition on the receiving device of the car ready to be removed by theoperator. Fig. 2 shows a transverse sectional view through the mail-carhaving my improvements applied thereto and alsoshowing thestationary-part of my apparatus adjacent to the track-rails, togetherwith a solid back and a mail-pouch resting on the floor of the car readyto be delivered to the stationary delivering. apparatus, and also asolid back and mail-pouch onthe stationary receiving apparatus ready tobe engaged by the receiving'apparatus on the car; and Fig. 3 shows a topor plan view of the stationary portion of-my apparatus and a horizontalsectional view of a part of a car having a solid back resting on itsdoor and in position to be engaged by the wire of the stationarydelivering device.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have used thereference-numeral 10 to in dicate the track-rails, and 11 the car-body.

The numeral 12 indicates the car-door opening, and 13 the fioor of thecar. Mounted upon the car-floor within the door-opening is a bracket 14to project upwardly and outwardly therefrom for purposes hereinaftermade clear, and fixed to oneend'portion of the car at the side of thecar near its top are two arms 15, extended at right angles to thelongitudinal center of the car, the upper one having its end beyond theside of the car curved outwardly and upwardly at 16, and the lower one,which is directly beneath the upper one, has its outer end curvedoutwardly and downwardly at 17. These arms are preferablyconnected bymeans of a cross-piece 1S.

Attached to the side of the carat some distance from the upper arm andin horizontal alinement therewith is a contractile coilspring 19, and awire is attached to the end of the spring and to the end of the upperarm 15. At some distance beneath the spring 19 is a hook 21, attached tothe side of the car, and the distance between the spring and the hook 21is materially greater than the distance between the ends of the arms 15,and a wire 22 is attached at one end to the lower arm 15 and isdetachably connected at its other end to the hook 21.

The parts hereinbefore described constitute all of my apparatus that isborne by the car and is obviously very simple and inexpensive and soarranged as not to interfere with any of the ordinary uses for which thecar is maintained.

The stationary part of my apparatus comprises a post 23, placed in theground-surface adjacent to the track-rails, but removed from them so farthat the post will not in any way interfere with passengers on the car.At the top of the post 23 is a pivoted arm 24, mounted in the bracket 25and having a weight 26 at its end that is farthest from the track. Its

other end is provided with a shoulder 27 and a projection 28, extendinghorizontally and then upwardly and havingits sides rounded, as clearlyillustrated in Fig. 3, the weight being sufficient to throw this arm toan upright position when its outer end is not held downwardly. Somedistance beneath the arm 24 is a bracket 29 on the face of the postnearest the track, and this bracket supports a pivoted arm 30, which armwill swing down by gravity when its outer end is released. Near theouter end of the arm 30 is a shoulder 31, for purposes hereinafter madeclear. These arms 24 and 30 comprise all of the receiving apparatus thatis connected with the stationary post.

The mail-delivering apparatus that is connected with the stationary postcomprises two arms 32, pivoted at 33 to swing in a vertical plane at theopposite sides of the post 23, their outer ends being curved outwardly,upwardly, and then inwardly when the arms are in a horizontal position.Attached to the outer end of each of the arms 32 is a delivering-wire34, which wire extends in a direction upwardly and diagonally outwardlyfrom the track-rails to a post 35, situated some distance from the post35 and farther from the track-rails than is the post 23. In use Igenerally attach the wire 34 to a telegraph-pole or other convenientsupport located in convenient proximity to the post 23,the two wires 34being extended in opposite directions from the post 23. It is obviousthat from the location of the posts 35 relative to the arms 32 the saidarms will be drawn upwardly to a substantially vertical position by thesaid wires unless some means are provided for holding them to theirhorizontal position. I have therefore provided means whereby the arms 32may be held downwardly, asfollows: Fixed to the outer face of theupright 23 isa cross-piece 36, and hinged to each end of saidcross-piece 36, to swing in ahorizontal plane, is an arm 37, having aforked end 38. When it is desired to hold one of the arms 32 downwardly,the arm 37 is swung to position with its free end toward the track andthe wire 34 is placed in the forked end thereof. Obviously by this meansthe arm 32 is held downwardly. However, as soon as the arm 37 is swungoutwardly from the post 23 the wire will pull the arm 32 to its uprightposition.

The reference-numeral 39 is used to indicate the solid back of a lengthand width sufficient to receive an ordinary mail-pouch, and secured toone face of the solid back 39 are the straps 40, by which a mail-sackmay be firmly connected with the solid back. At the end portions of thesolid back are two slots 41, and on the surface of the solid backopposite from the straps are the curved arms 42, which arms projectdownwardly, then inwardly, and finally upwardly and have the enlargedrounded ends 43.

In practical use and assuming that it is desired to deliver a pouch ofmail from the car the operator in the car straps a pouch to one of thesolid backs 39 and then places the solid back on the front of the car,its inner end resting upon the curved arms 42 and its outer end beingsupported by the bracket 14, which bracket projects upwardly through oneof the slots 41, thereby firmly holding the solid back and mail-pouch inits proper position relative to the car. The stationary deliveringapparatus is set, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with one of the arms 32 inits horizontal position and the corresponding arm 37in engagement withthe wire 34. the wire 34 the outer ones of the arms 42 will encircle theupper end of the arm 32 and will also encircle the wire attached to saidupper end. As the car progresses farther one of the arms 42 will strikeupon the arm 37, thus forcing it outwardly, so that the solid back, withits attached mail-pouch, may slide upwardly on the wire 34 until itloses its momentum, after which it will return by gravity to astarting-point. As soon, however, as the arm 37 is pushed outwardly thewire 34 will elevate the arm 32 and draw it up to position where it willnot be likely to strike passengers on the following coaches. In thisconnection I have provided means whereby the curved arms 42 may besecurely held to the wire 34, as follows:

The numeral 44 indicates a tube slidingly mounted upon the wire 34 andhaving a spring 45, attached at one end to the tube 44,

Then as the car approaches extended for some distance substantiallyparallel with the tube and having its end portion 46 curved outwardlyfrom the tube 46. The space between the spring 45 and the tube 44 isless than the diameter of the rounded ends 43, so that when the arms 42pass between the spring 45 and the tube 44 they will be securely heldbetween the said tube and spring. This tube and spring move bodily withthe solid back upon the wire 34, and the solid back and mail-pouch maybe easily released from the tube and spring by the operator.

In practical use, assuming that it is desired to deliver a mail-pouch'toa moving train, either simultaneously with the delivery of a pouch fromthe train or by itself, the operator secures a mail-pouch to one of thesolid backs and suspends it on the arms 24 and 30 by forcing said armsthrough the openings 41 in the solid back. I As hereinbefore stated, theend 28 of arm 24 is curved upwardly slightly and its sides are rounded,and as the outer end of the arm 24 is constantly drawn upwardly by theweight 26 it is obvious that the solid back will be securely supportedin its suspended position. Then when a car having curved arms 15approaches the solid back thus supported the curved arms 42 will inclosethe wires 20 and 22, and, as before stated, these wires operate towardthe center of the car, and hence as soon as the arms 42 tightly engagethe wires 20 and 22 the solid back will be 'forced from the arms 24 and30, and these arms will swing by gravity to position parallel with thepost 23. The inertia of the solid back and the mail-pouch will begradually overcome as the rails separate more widely toward the centerof the car, and the said wires will readily yield toward each other onaccount of the spring 19, so that the solid back and mail-pouch willcome to a position of rest on the wires directlyin front of the car-dooropening, from which opening it may readily be detached by an operator bysimply drawing the upper wire downward by det'achably connecting thewire 22 at one end, which may when not in use be supported in positionwhere it will not interfere with the passage-way through the car-dooropening.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States therefor, is-

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mailpouch holder, curved arms attached to said holder, a wire rigidlysecured at one end, a curved arm at tached to the other end of saidwire, said curved arms being so shaped and arranged relative to eachother that when passing the curved arms on the mail-pouch the holderwill hook over the end of the curved arm having the wire attached to it.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a back,means for securing a mail-pouch to the back, a number of curved armsconnected with the back, a Wire rigidly secured at one end, a curvedarmhaving the other end of said wire attached thereto, said curved armsbeing so shaped and arranged relative to each other that, when passing,the curved arms on the back will hook over the end of the wire'supportedby the other curved arm, for the purposes stated.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a solidback, means for securing a mail-pouch to one side of the back, a numberof curved arms on the opposite side of the back, a car, a bracketsecured to the car and extending outwardly and upwardly therefromwith'its end capable of projecting through one of the slots in the backto support the back in position within the car, a 'wire having one endsecured to a post, and a curved arm having the other end of said wireattached thereto, said latter curved arm being arranged in such positionthat the curved arms on the solid back will hook over the end of thewire supported upon the other curved arm when the car bearing the solidback passes the latter curved arm.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a car,of a bracket secured to the car and projecting upwardly and outwardlyfrom the floor of the car in the cardoor opening, and a solid backhaving an opening near one end designed to receive the bracket wherebythe outer end of the solid back may be supported on the bracket and theend of the bracket that projects through the slot will hold the solidback in position,

a number of hooks on the solid back, means for securing a mail-pouch tothe solid back, and a stationary wire to be engaged by said hooks, forthe purposes stated.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with astationary post, an arm pivoted at one end to the post and having itsother end curved outwardly and upwardly, a wire attached at one end tothe free end of the arm and at its other end to a stationary support insuch position that the tension'of the wire will tend to draw the arm toposition parallel with the post, and a forked arm hinged to a stationarysupport to swing in a plane at right angles to the path of movement ofthe other arm, and so positioned relative to the other arm that itsforked end may in one position admit the wire and thereby hold the otherarm in a substantially horizontal position against the tension of thewire.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of astationary post, an arm pivoted at one end to the stationary post toswing in a verticalplane and having its free end curved outwardly andupwardly, a wire attached to said free end extended upwardly andrearwardly and attached at its other end to a stationary support, and aforked arm hinged to a stationary support to swing in a horizontal planeand to admit one wire into its forked end at a point a short distancefrom its point of attachment to the other arm.

7. In an apparatus of the class described,

&

the combination of a post, a weighted arm pivoted to the post, a secondarm pivoted to the post below the first, a solid back, means fordetachably connecting the solid back to the said arm, means forsecuringa mail-pouch to the solid back, curved arms on said solid back,a car, and means carried by the car for engaging the curved arms andremoving the solid back from its supporting-arms.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of astationary post, a pivoted weighted lever on the post, having a shoulder27 near its outer end, and a rounded head 28 at its outer end, a secondarm 30 pivoted to the post beneath the first arm, and having a shoulder31 and a rounded end, means for securing the mail-pouch to the solidback, curved arms connected with the solid back, a car, and meanscarried by the car for engaging the curved arm and thereby removing thesolid back from its supporting arm.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of amail-pouch holder, means for supporting the mail'pouch holder in anupright position adjacent to a railwaytrack, curved arms connected withthe mailpouch holder, a car, two curved arms attached to the car, andwires attached to the curved arms on the car at one end, said wiresdiverging slightly from each other and attached to the car at theirother ends, said curved arms on the mail-pouch holder and car being soarranged relative to each other that the curved arms on the mail-pouchholder will hook around the wires on the car as the car passes themail-pouch holder.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a solidback, curved arms attached to the solid back means for supporting thesolid back adjacent to a railway-track, a car, two curved arms carriedby the car, two wires attached to the curved arms on the car, the upperone extending lengthwise of the car, in a horizontal plane, acontractile spring attached to the other end of the upper wire and alsoattached to the car, and means for supporting the other end of the lowerwire, said wire diverging slightly from the ends that are attached tothe arms on the car, said arms on the solid back and car being so shapedand arranged relative to each other that as the car passes the solidback the curved arms on the back will hook around the wires, for thepurposes stated.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of amail-pouch holder, curved arms on the holder, each arm having anenlarged ball at its end, a stationary wire, a sleeve 44 slidinglymounted on the wire, and a spring 45 fixed to the sleeve 44 and havingan outwardly-curved end 46, said parts being so arranged that as thecurved arms hook over the sleeve 44 they will pass between the sleeveand the spring, and the balls on the ends of the arm will prevent thearms from passing through between the sleeve and spring, for thepurposes stated.

Des Moines, Iowa, June 11, 1902.

ROBERT SHEDENHELM.

Witnesses:

S. F. OHRIsTY, W. R. LANE.

